Political Leaders Unite Against Hate Speech at National Conference in Gambia

The event was organised by the Inter-Party Committee (IPC) with support from UNESCO Dakar, as part of the UN Peacebuilding Fund-backed project 'Strengthening the National Infrastructure for Peace to Promote Social Cohesion in The Gambia'. The project focuses on establishing preventive mechanisms, including institutional and legal reforms, to reinforce peacebuilding efforts across the country.

Held under the theme 'Confronting Hate Speech is a Shared Political Responsibility,' the conference brought together leaders of registered political parties to address the growing concern of hate speech in the national political discourse.

The daylong event featured discussions on the dynamics of hate speech in The Gambia, drawing from the National Human Rights Commission's national assessment. It also explored international and national legal frameworks on hate speech and examined the role of political parties and the IPC in combating hate speech and negative stereotypes.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of 20 anti-hate speech banners to political parties. These banners, bearing messages that denounce hate speech, are intended for display at political rallies as a visible reminder to speakers and supporters to uphold respectful and inclusive discourse.

Michel Elvis Kenmoe, UNESCO's West Africa Advisor for Communication and Information, reiterated the urgency of tackling hate speech as the country approaches a critical election year.